News Nook: Jan 28, 2026

Indian Sector Specific News:

A) BFSI:

1) India–EU Free Trade Agreement Concluded

• India and the European Union have successfully finalized a Free Trade Agreement that will significantly boost trade and investment between the two regions by giving Indian exporters easier and wider access to EU markets, covering nearly all of India’s export value.
• The agreement is expected to benefit key sectors like textiles, leather, jewellery, engineering goods, chemicals, and IT services, while also supporting MSMEs, job creation, talent mobility, and stronger global integration for India’s economy.
• Source: Press Information Bureau, January 28, 2026 (as cited via secondary research/IBEF)

2) Union Budget 2026: Sectoral Expectations Ahead of Presentation

• With the Union Budget 2026-27 approaching, various sectors—from banking to insurance, pension schemes and taxation—have outlined their expectations, urging reforms that boost household financial savings, simplify tax and compliance burdens, and strengthen social security coverage.
• Industry bodies and analysts are also looking for supportive measures across key areas such as capital expenditure continuity, export incentives, and sector-specific relief (e.g., fintech, electronics, MSMEs, and more) to sustain growth and competitiveness.
• Source: Times of India

3) Why Union Budget 2026 Could Be Crucial for Expanding Insurance Coverage in India

• The upcoming Union Budget 2026 is seen as an important opportunity for the government to introduce targeted fiscal and structural measures that can make insurance more accessible, affordable, and relevant for large segments of the population currently uninsured—addressing rising healthcare costs, climate risks, and gaps in MSME protection.
• Industry leaders expect Budget 2026 to include incentives such as tax benefits for policyholders, support for climate-related insurance solutions, simplified products and distribution, and measures to bridge the protection gap in both urban and rural areas, thereby strengthening overall financial resilience.
• Source: Economic Times

4) LIC Invests ₹5,120 Crore in Bajaj Finance Debentures

• Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) has invested ₹5,120 crore by subscribing to 5.12 lakh debentures issued by Bajaj Finance, strengthening its exposure to high-quality corporate debt for stable long-term returns.
• The funds raised will be used by Bajaj Finance for general business purposes, with LIC clarifying that the transaction is not a related-party deal and does not require any regulatory approvals.
• Source: IIFL Capital Services news report

5) SEBI Moves to Resolve MFD vs Investment Advisor Dispute

• SEBI has formed a working group to address long-standing differences between mutual fund distributors (MFDs) and registered investment advisors (RIAs), focusing on regulatory overlaps, scope of advice, and possible new licensing or advisory frameworks.
• The move aims to align regulations more closely with ground realities, potentially allowing experienced distributors to offer advisory services and significantly expand the number of investment advisors, improving investor access to quality guidance.
• Source: Moneycontrol

B) Automobile:

1) India–EU FTA to Slash Car Import Tariffs

• Under the newly concluded India–EU Free Trade Agreement, import duties on European-made cars will be reduced sharply from up to 110% to as low as 10%, within an annual quota of 2.5 lakh vehicles, significantly improving access for EU automakers to the Indian market.
• The agreement will also eliminate tariffs on EU car parts over 5–10 years, supporting faster technology inflow, better model availability, and growth in India’s luxury and premium automobile segment, while strengthening the overall automotive ecosystem.
• Source: Moneycontrol

2) European Luxury Cars Set to Get Cheaper After India–EU FTA

• European car brands such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce and Bentley are expected to become more affordable in India as the India–EU Free Trade Agreement allows a phased reduction in car import tariffs under a quota-based system.
• The deal balances consumer benefits with domestic manufacturing goals, offering Indian buyers access to advanced global models while also opening export opportunities for India-made vehicles in European markets.
• Source: Asian News International (ANI)

C) Pharma:

1) Health Ministry Eases NDCT Rules to Boost Pharma R&D

• The Union Health Ministry has amended the NDCT Rules, 2019 to simplify drug development and clinical research by cutting approval timelines, reducing compliance requirements, and enabling faster innovation while maintaining public safety.
• Key changes include replacing test licences with a prior-intimation system for non-commercial drug manufacture, waiving prior approvals for certain low-risk BA/BE studies, and reducing statutory processing timelines—collectively saving at least 90 days in drug development cycles.
• Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB)

2) India–EU FTA Unlocks Major Opportunities for Pharma and MedTech

• Union Minister J.P. Nadda said the India–EU Free Trade Agreement will give Indian pharmaceutical and medical device companies access to the EU’s $572.3 billion market, helping boost exports, scale operations, create jobs, and strengthen India’s position as a global healthcare partner.
• The agreement offers preferential market access and lower tariffs for Indian pharma and MedTech products, supports MSMEs and manufacturing clusters, and is expected to drive export-led growth across key states while deepening India’s role in global supply chains.
• Source: ddnews

D) Energy:

1) India Targets $100 Billion Investment in Oil & Gas by 2030

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that India aims to attract $100 billion of investment in the oil and gas sector by the end of this decade, highlighting rising energy demand and positioning India as a major global destination for energy investments.
• He also said India is on track to become the world’s largest oil refining hub by expanding refining capacity from 260 MTPA to 300 MTPA, with overall energy sector investment opportunities estimated at $500 billion, supported by reforms and trade agreements like the India–EU FTA.
• Source: Times of India

E) Agriculture:

1) FAI Seeks Budget Support to Strengthen Fertiliser Security

• Ahead of Union Budget 2026–27, the Fertiliser Association of India (FAI) has urged the government to adopt targeted policy and fiscal measures to ensure fertiliser security, promote balanced nutrient use, and support domestic manufacturing amid rising global input cost volatility.
• The industry has called for predictable subsidy frameworks, tax and duty rationalisation, incentives for indigenous capacity and R&D, and reforms to encourage sustainable fertilisation, strengthen Atmanirbhar Bharat goals, and safeguard long-term food security.
• Source: Krishi Jagran

F) FMCG:

1) FMCG Brands Look to Union Budget 2026 to Sustain Consumption Growth

• FMCG companies are pinning hopes on Union Budget 2026 to build on the consumption momentum triggered by GST rationalisation in 2025, which boosted affordability, festive spending, and post-festival demand across both urban and rural markets.
• Industry leaders are seeking structural policy support—such as GST rate reviews, manufacturing and agri-value chain incentives, rural income support, and logistics infrastructure—to ensure predictable, long-term consumption growth and enable confident investments in capacity, innovation, and distribution.
• Source: SocialSamosa

G) IT:

1) Infosys Tightens Work-From-Home (WFH) Policy

• Infosys has updated its WFH policy to tighten hybrid work norms, requiring most employees to work from the office for a minimum number of days each month and placing a cap on the number of extra WFH days allowed per quarter.
• Under the revised guidelines, employees must attend the office at least 10 days a month, and any additional remote work beyond a quarterly limit of five days now needs explicit manager approval, aligning with similar moves by other IT firms.
• Source: Times of India

Indian Economy and Government Initiatives:

• The Congress has accused the Modi government’s economic policies of causing “jobless growth,” citing falling employment in manufacturing and services, rising dependence on low-productivity agriculture, and growing informal work. Its report also questions the credibility of official data, pointing to high cost of living, weak rupee, negative FDI months, and a weakening of welfare schemes despite rising corporate profits.

Indian Stock Market Udpate:

• Indian equities closed sharply higher as the Sensex and Nifty extended gains on optimism around a landmark India–EU trade agreement and supportive global cues. 
• The Sensex jumped 487 points to end at 82,344, while the Nifty rose 167 points to close above 25,340.
• Investor wealth swelled by nearly ₹3 lakh crore, pushing total market capitalisation to ₹456 lakh crore. Global markets added to the momentum, with the S&P 500 crossing 7,000 for the first time amid AI-driven optimism. 
• A stronger rupee, positive technical signals, and stable global conditions further boosted risk appetite.

Bonus Briefs:

• The U.S. government could partially shut down Saturday if Congress doesn’t pass a spending bill. Agencies like the IRS might stop some work, nonessential workers could be sent home, and essential workers would work without pay. Changes to the bill would need House approval, making a shutdown more likely.